Progressive Closure of Seasonal Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Stations

September 9^th, 2020                            

Québec, Quebec - The Canadian Coast Guard advises the public that the seasonal Inshore Rescue Boat stations located in Trois-Rivières and Beaconsfield wrapped up their seasonal summer service on September 7 at 8:00 p.m.

Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, Longueuil and St-Zotique’s rescue stations will still be operational from 8:00 p.m. on Friday to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday for the following weekends in September:

11 to 13,

18 to 20 and

25 to 27.

The Sorel station remains in service every day of the week from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will close on November 15^th, 2020.

All inshore rescue boat stations have been operational since May 27^th – the start of peak boating and sailing season in Quebec.

We remind boaters that public health officials’ guidance on physical distancing should be applied on the water. Where recreational boating is allowed, boaters must continue to follow guidance health authorities to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Search and rescue is an essential service. During a search and rescue response, crew members are required to work in very close proximity to each other. If members of the public encounter search and rescue crews, please notify them of any symptoms that align with COVID-19. During regular operations, crews are taking all precautions to work at further distances from each other, in line with the advice of health professionals.

The Canadian Coast Guard strongly recommends wearing a lifejacket at all times.  For other advice, we invite you to consult the Safe Boating Guide on the Transport Canada website

Any marine emergency can be reported to the Canadian Coast Guard 24/7:

Phone 1-800-463-4393 or 418-648-3599

VHF radio channel 16 (156.8 Mhz)

Mobile *16

Digital Selective Calling (DSC/VHF) channel 70

Radio frequency MF 2182 Khz.